EKURHULENI TO CLAMP DOWN ON ILLEGAL FOOD TRADING
The MMC of Development Planning and Real Estate Alderman Nomadlozi Nkosi has called on all Spaza Shops, Tuck Shops and anyone dealing with food to comply with the City’s bylaws and regulations guiding their industry in order to save lives and put an end to the latest incidents which led to the loss of lives or be ‘shut down’.
“We are prepared to shut down all Spaza shops in the City of Ekurhuleni for non-compliance. But before we do this, we call upon all operators of these businesses to come forward with their approved building plans, business permits, certificates of acceptability as well as zoning certificates so that we can verify if they are operating in line with the City’s policies and by laws,” warns Ald Nkosi pointing out that ‘there will be no tolerance to undocumented foreign nationals who are running such businesses’.
“Our country faces a serious challenge of food poisoning which is leading to the deaths of school children. As the City of Ekurhuleni we mourn the passing of school kids in the Southern and Eastern regions as we speak. The situation is so bad that has triggered the Gauteng Provincial Government to suspend the selling of refreshments in and around school premises – a move we are in full support of as a City.
” MMC Nkosi says as the political head of Planning and Economic Development in the region, from next week she will be leading massive campaign to educate the community and business owners on the ‘dos and don’ts’ of running legal businesses in compliance with the law ‘in order to protect our loved ones, especially the vulnerable’.
The City plans to convene public meetings throughout the region for affected parties (Spaza shops owners, community members and relevant departments) in the City starting with the Southern region. “These platforms will allow for progressive engagements, and we will also use them to vet the businesses”.
“We are against illegal trading, selling of expired and counterfeit goods in our communities. This campaign will involve SAPS, EMPD, Corporate Legal Services, Environmental Health, Economic development and Economic Development. This campaign will also extend to wholesalers across the city,” warns MMC Nkosi, adding that “While we continue to build our local economy in the City, we must ensure the Safety of our children in catered for”.
“Asakhe Umnotho Ophephile Nosemthethweni,” is the final message from Ald Nkosi. WE SAY NO TO NON-COMPLIANCE IN OUR CITY, WE REMAIN A PARTNERSHIP THAT WORKS
